Kellanova is Fast-Tracking Careers with Future-Focused Training

Rhea-AI Summary

Kellanova (NYSE: K) on Nov. 25, 2025 highlighted a pilot E&I technician training program at its Jackson, TN Pringles plant to address a national skilled-labor gap. The plant occupies 50 acres and requires 65 trained electricians. Since 2021 the company has hired 50 employees into the program. The in-house curriculum, developed with Tennessee College of Applied Technology Jackson, aims to fast-track promotions (cutting promotion time by half), teach AI and automation skills, and improve retention by combining on-the-job and classroom training.

The release also notes broader industry pressure: >25% of U.S. manufacturing workers are over 55 and electricians face a multi-year training timeline (3–4 years).

Positive

• Hired 50 employees into E&I training since 2021
• Promotion time reduced by half through the program
• On-site training includes AI and automation skills for future-ready workforce
• Supports plant operations that require 65 trained electricians

Negative

• >25% of U.S. manufacturing workforce is over 55, signalling near-term retirements
• Electrician training requires 3–4 years, creating a multi-year pipeline lag
• Electricians are retiring faster than new hires can be trained, worsening shortages

Insights

Workforce Development Analyst

Kellanova's in‑house E&I training with TCAT creates a measurable talent pipeline and shortens promotion timelines.

The program links classroom instruction with on‑site, hands‑on experience to produce electricians/E&I technicians needed to operate increasingly complex plant technology. By hiring 50 participants since 2021 and delivering accelerated curricula, the initiative reduces external hiring needs and builds internal capability at the Jackson, TN plant that services the Pringles line on a 50‑acre site.

Key dependencies and risks include sustained program throughput, continued alignment of curriculum to evolving shop technology, and the ability to retain graduates after promotion; current claims that promotion time is cut by half and that training spans about a year should be validated with retention and productivity data. Watch for reported metrics over the next 12–24 months: number of graduates placed into full roles, retention rates post‑promotion, and any stated changes to headcount needs that would show effect on workforce shortfalls.

Kellanova's pilot training program serves as a talent pipeline for higher-skilled jobs

CHICAGO, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nationwide, manufacturers are facing a shortage of skilled labor, and with more than 25% of U.S. manufacturing employees being over 55, that shortage will only get worse in the coming years. That gap is worse for highly skilled roles like electricians and mechanics. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of electricians is projected to grow 6% annually until 2032 – twice the rate of other occupations. Moreover, electricians are retiring faster than new hires can train and join the workforce, a process that can take between three and four years. 

Kellanova's Jackson, TN, plant – which is the only plant in the United States that makes Pringles crisps – covers 50 acres and requires 65 trained electricians to maintain and repair all the equipment. Kellanova, in partnership with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), is piloting a training program that will serve as pipeline for talent for our team and a fast-track to higher-skilled and higher-paid jobs for local students as electricians, otherwise known as Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I) technicians, in our manufacturing plant. 

"The technology on our plant floor is evolving, and as it becomes more complex, the role of our E&I technicians becomes even more important," said Bryan Sparks, plant director in Jackson, TN. "By bringing this training in-house, we invest in our people, helping them build capabilities and continue to learn as our industry evolves while they benefit from the opportunity to earn promotions more quickly and grow their careers, starting day one."

"This partnership with Kellanova is beneficial for our students, and as educators, we want to make sure our students learn skills that they can put to work immediately," said Dr. Jacquene Rainey, president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Jackson. "Students get invaluable exposure to the careers they can build here in Jackson, connect with others in their industry, and know that they'll graduate job-ready."  

Since we started the partnership in 2021, we've hired 50 employees into our E&I training program which empowers current Kellanova employees, as well as Jackson residents looking to join the manufacturing industry, to:

• Fast-track their careers: In partnership with local technical schools like the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), in-house instructors develop a curriculum for students, identify high-performing talent, expedite their growth post-graduation as full-time employees – leveraging on-site training rooms, advanced equipment and 1:1 time with instructors and experienced electrician mentors.
• Earn higher wages: Over the course of the program, participants develop specialized skills that prepare them for higher-paying roles in the plant in a little over a year, cutting promotion time by half. It has also improved our retention rates.
• Stay future-ready: Not only do participants gain skills to set them up for success in their chosen fields, but they're also trained in emerging technologies like AI, automation and more.
• Combine skills development with real-time, on-the-job experience: Because the training rooms are in the manufacturing facility, it's easy for participants to take time in the normal course of their work to develop new skills and refine existing ones through a combination of hands-on instruction and computer-based training modules.

"Twenty years ago, an E&I technician was focused on relatively simple tasks like programming equipment related to timing. Now, we're asking technicians to work on robots, cameras, digital readouts, and the technology is doubling in complexity every three to four years," explained Eddie Ballard, the lead instructor of the E&I training program. "Not only does this program train new hires, it helps our experienced technicians keep pace with new skills and technology without leaving the building." 

"I've been able to build capabilities and a career here, and I get to put the skills I learned at TCAT and continue to learn at Kellanova to work every day," said Tina Blackwell, a TCAT graduate and E&I technician at Kellanova Jackson. "It's an exciting place to work, and we get to work with emerging technologies on the job."

Kellanova (NYSE: K) is a leader in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North America frozen foods with a legacy stretching back more than 100 years. Powered by differentiated brands including Pringles^®, Cheez-It^®, Pop-Tarts^®, Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats^®, RXBAR^®, Eggo^®, MorningStar Farms^®, Special K^®, Coco Pops^®, and more, Kellanova's vision is to become the world's best-performing snacks-led powerhouse, unleashing the full potential of our differentiated brands and our passionate people. Our net sales for 2024 were approximately $13 billion.

Kellanova is guided by our purpose to create better days and a place at the table for everyone through our trusted food brands. We are advancing sustainable and equitable access to food by addressing the intersection of hunger, sustainability, wellbeing, and equity, diversity & inclusion, with the ambition of creating Better Days for 4 billion people by the end of 2030. Visit www.Kellanova.com for more information.

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SOURCE Kellanova

FAQ

What is Kellanova announcing about the Jackson, TN training program on Nov. 25, 2025?

Kellanova announced a pilot E&I technician training program at the Jackson Pringles plant to fast-track careers and fill skilled-electrician roles.

How many employees has Kellanova hired into the E&I training program since 2021 (K)?

Kellanova has hired 50 employees into the E&I training program since 2021.

How does the Kellanova program affect promotion timelines for electricians at the plant (K)?

The program is reported to cut promotion time by half, accelerating movement into higher-skilled roles.

Why is Kellanova focusing on electrician and E&I technician training at the Jackson plant (K)?

The Jackson plant needs 65 trained electricians and faces aging workforce pressure, so in-house training creates a local talent pipeline.

What skills does the Kellanova E&I training include for Jackson plant employees (K)?

Training combines hands-on instruction and computer modules, including emerging technologies like AI and automation.

How long does it take to train a new electrician according to Kellanova's Nov. 25, 2025 release?

The release notes electrician training can take about 3–4 years to fully train new hires.